In 1893, the International Statistical Institute introduced the International List of Causes of Death providing a common standard by which clinical professionals could classify health conditions. In 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) took over the list, which was now called the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) because it included all health conditions, not just the causes of mortality. The WHO has continuously updated the list and approval for the ICD-11 version was just approved in May 2019. It will go into effect in January 2022.
The ICD-10 version classifies transgender or gender identity disorder as a mental illness. The ICD-11 moved this condition to a new section called sexual health and renamed it gender incongruence.
The LGBT community has reason to celebrate this change as it is a step forward in removing the stigma attached to being transgender by no longer considering it a mental defect or “all in one’s head.”
I worked in a psychiatry office for three years and was not aware that transgender was considered a mental issue. I really had not thought about it at all. Personally, I am all for people just being who they are, whatever that looks like. Or at least that’s how I want to be. I’m not perfect at it.
That’s not to say that I understand it. I saw an article today in the New York Times on people who call themselves non-binary. I should probably read it before I comment, but how do you not identify with being either a male or female? I promise I’ll read it later. It’s not that I don’t want to understand and I do get that I can’t possibly know what’s happening for someone unless I’ve been in their shoes. I don’t understand gambling addiction either, but I know that it’s real for some people.
When I was in high school, I knew a boy who was gay. I remember thinking how hard that must have been for him back then to remain loyal to who he was, despite the ridicule and sometimes even bullying from others. Being that age, I’m sure a lot of people have questions about their sexual identity, but then I only knew the one boy who wasn’t afraid to show the world his true self. I don’t know if I understood being gay at that point, but I honestly didn’t care. If you were gay, be gay, I didn’t really have an opinion either way. I did wonder if I realized that I was gay, if I’d have the guts to come out. I guess I’ll never know.
As I got older and had more experience in life and love, I didn’t have personal experience with being sexually attracted to women, but I did come to understand love as being transcendent of gender. There is nothing unnatural about any kind of love, whether it is between a man and woman or man and man or woman and woman. I feel like love just is. Who knows how or when it will hit someone?
A few years ago, right before I turned 40, I went back to college. I took a class called Masculinity in Literature. I suppose the topic was interesting, but really it was just one of my favorite professors and it fit in my schedule (not before 11:00 am). It was indeed thought provoking. During one class, we got into a discussion about Caitlyn Jenner because at that time, she had just announced that she was transgender. I was biased against her because I don’t care for reality television and people becoming famous for exposing every inane detail of their lives on TV, but I had admired Bruce Jenner as an amazing athlete who won gold in the decathlon at the 1976 Olympics. He was on the Wheaties box for goodness sakes! When Bruce transitioned to Caitlyn, I was just dumbfounded. Was it for real? Why would someone do that in front of the whole world? What I found very interesting was that the kids in my class, who were half my age, didn’t even bat an eyelash at the whole thing. It was completely normal to them. They may not have experienced the same thing, but it didn’t matter to them at all. Despite feeling like a really out of touch old lady, I was so impressed with their acceptance and openness.
Don’t get me wrong…I still truly believe that people should be who they are supposed to be. It’s not my business to judge anyone on how they live their lives. Not that I don’t judge at all ever, but I confine it to my brain or close circle of friends. Come on, we all judge. I think it’s part of the human condition. I’m sure even Jesus gossiped with Peter about the sandals John was wearing (they totally clashed with his outfit).
The Bruce Jenner thing really threw me for a loop. I just don’t really understand. I can’t imagine putting myself out there like that. I don’t think I would have the courage. I’m not a good “go against the grain” kind of girl. I want to fit in. I think all of those people out there that are living lives as their true selves are absolutely incredible. How brave they have to be to be authentic in a world full of hate and intolerance. And the argument about people having a “choice” to be gay or transgender or non-binary just doesn’t hold water. Who would “choose” to be condemned, ridiculed, tortured, or even killed? Who would decide that it would be best to be alienated by their entire family? Who would want to be treated as second- class citizens by their country?
On the occasional days when I feel the world is going back in time and erasing all of the strides we have made towards equality for all, I can remember that literature class when those kids showed me hope that love and tolerance does evolve.
So yes I may not understand everything in this wild world we live in that seems to be changing at warp speed, but as I get older and start thinking about who I am and what I value, I’m really okay with not fully understanding or having an opinion about absolutely everything. We don’t all have to be the same or believe in the same things for the world to keep spinning on its axis. We are all just fine just as we are.
